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My professional career has included stints in both journalism and public relations. As a writer and editor, my beats have included city government, state government, police, environment, general assignment and finance.

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Electric utilities work with cannabis growers to save on power costs

Despite knowing for years that electricity is a major expense that can significantly affect everyone's bottom line, marijuana businesses - especially growers - are still struggling to keep costs manageable.

No matter what you think of the medicinal marijuana and the trend toward legalization for personal use, the marijuana business is growing, pun not intended. This article details how growers are struggling with high (again, pun not intended) electrical costs and how utilities are working with them to keep costs in line.

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I used to work extensively in evaluating potential energy conservation standards from the Department of Energy on lighting technologies. The goal was always to figure out what level of efficacy was reasonable to mandate for general lighting, accounting for technology, economics, markets, etc., and specialty bulbs were always exempt from the rules (typically applications like decorative lighting that was not intended to provide general illumination). 'Grow' lamps from the cannabis industry would always pop up in the research and the public comments on these rulemaking processes, but always had to be addressed in almost a sly wink-wink way that I found to be amusing. But in the end, hydroponics and any other indoor plant illumination WAS indeed a specialty application that had an exemption carved out for them-- so while the topic may still be unnecessarily taboo in some circles, it's great to see the reality of their energy-related needs being addressed.

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